CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-26415NVD status: Modified

BIG-IP: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-26415 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in a command vulnerability in BIG-IP from F5, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 16.1.2.2, 15.1.5.1, 14.1.4.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating BIG-IP to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.74% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update BIG-IP to 16.1.2.2 or 15.1.5.1 or 14.1.4.6 or 13.1.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Big-ip Access Policy Manager to 13.1.5 or 14.1.4.6 or 15.1.5.1 or 16.1.2.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Update Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager to 13.1.5 or 14.1.4.6 or 15.1.5.1 or 16.1.2.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on support.f5.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
F5BIG-IP12.1.x; 16.1.x up to, but not including, 16.1.2.2; 15.1.x up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 14.1.x up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 13.1.x up to, but not including, 13.1.516.1.2.2, 15.1.5.1, 14.1.4.6, 13.1.5
F5Big-ip Access Policy Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Analytics12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Application Security Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Domain Name System12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Fraud Protection Service12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Global Traffic Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Link Controller12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Local Traffic Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2
F5Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager12.1.0 through 12.1.6; 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.4.6; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.5.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.2.213.1.5, 14.1.4.6, 15.1.5.1, 16.1.2.2

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.7HighCNA (f5.com)
CVSS 3.19.1CriticalNVD
CVSS 2.06.0MediumNVD

Official description

On F5 BIG-IP 16.1.x versions prior to 16.1.2.2, 15.1.x versions prior to 15.1.5.1, 14.1.x versions prior to 14.1.4.6, 13.1.x versions prior to 13.1.5, and all versions of 12.1.x, when running in Appliance mode, an authenticated user assigned the Administrator role may be able to bypass Appliance mode restrictions, utilizing an undisclosed iControl REST endpoint. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command

The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
  • If possible, ensure that all external commands called from the program are statically created.
  • Run time: Run time policy enforcement may be used in an allowlist fashion to prevent use of any non-sanctioned commands.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command vulnerabilities (CWE-77)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in BIG-IP

All BIG-IP vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.